Box 15, Folder 11: Grass like Plants of Wisconsin, 1855

16 Eleocharis quadrangulata, R.Brown.

Syn. Scirpus quadrangulatus Mx (not of Muhl) S. marginatus Muhl. S. albomarginatus R. H.

Culm even, sharply quadrangular, three of the sides concave, the fourth wider and flat; spike cylindrical; scales broadly ovate very obtuse; bristles 6, as long as the achenium which is obovate, striate finely reticulated, and crowned with a conical flattened distinct tubercle. Culm 2 to 4 feet high; rhizoma thick and creeping. Flowers in August.

Swamps and shallow margins of rivers, growing in water. Illinois. Southern Indiana & Michigan.

Extends eastward to Pennsylvania, and south to Louisiana.

17 Eleocharis tuberculosa, R. Brown

Syn. Scirpus tuberculosus, Michx.

Culm terete, filiform, striate; spikes ovate, sub-acute; scales ovate, obtuse, loose; bristles rigid, strongly bearded downwards; achenium obtusely triangular, striate, and pitted, surmounted by a flattish cup-shaped tubercle as large as itself. Culms 8 to 12 inches high. Flowers in August.

Wet sandy places -- Illinois. Found chiefly along the Atlantic coast.

Extends east to N. England, and south to Florida.

18 Eleocharis obtusa, Schultes

Syn. Scirpus obtusus Willd. S. capitatus Waltr. S. ovatus Ph.

Culms nearly terete tufted; spike globoseovoid, and when old oblong, obtuse; scales very obtuse numerous, densely crowded; style 2 or 3 cleft; achenium obovate, about half the length of the 6 bristles; tubercle short, broad and flat. Culms 6 to 18 inches high. Flowers in July.

Wet muddy places. Milwaukee to the Ontonagon river of Lake Superior (Mr J. E. McMullen), also in Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, and Michigan

Plate IV. A plant of the natural size Fig 1 A spike 2 germ, style, &c 3 ripe achenium 4 scale 5 bristle

Extends south to Florida.

19 Eleocharis palustris, Robert Brown.

Syn. E. calva Tor. Scirpus palustris Linn. S. glaucus Torr. S. glaucestens Willd.

Culms nearly terete, striate; spike oblong-lanceolate, pointed, many flowered; scales ovate-oblong loosely imbricated, the two lowest large, orbicular, empty; achenium obovate; tubercle short; bristles usually 4, longer than the achenium. Culms from 1 to 2 feet high. Flowers in June.

In shallow water of swamps and wet grounds generally. Milwaukee to the St Croix river in Wisconsin; also in Illinois Indiana, Ohio, Michigan and about Lake Superior. This species is found native in the southern states, in Europe, the East Indies and the Sandwich Islands.

This is one of the few plants of this family which have been found to contain medicinal qualities: the flowering tops, seeds, and roots being astringent, have been employed in decoction, in diarrhea and homorrhages [hemorrhages]. It is not however thus employed in this country.*

Plate I fig 6. a. the spike; b. a flower, c the scale

* Dr A. Clapp. Jr. of Am. Med. Association Vol 5. 1852 p. 207

20 Eleocharis rostellata, Torrey.

Syn. Scirpus rostellatus Torr.

Culms flattened, striate-groved, wiry, erect; spike ovoid-lanceolate, acute 12 to 20 flowered; scales ovate obtuse, light brown; achenium smooth, obovate triangular, narrowed into the confluent pyramidal tubercle, bristles 4 to 6, strong, longer than the achenium. Culm 1 to 2 feet high. Flowers in August.

Grows in marshes -- Michigan Extends eastward to Rhode Island.